THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA’S (IPOB) SIT-AT-HOME ORDER IN THE SOUTHEAST OF NIGERIA: AN INFRINGEMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS
From time immemorial, agitation from a group of people who are aspiring for self-governance, which has always taken diverse strategies, has been prevalent. However, in Nigeria, the federal government’s prolonged arrest and detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader propelled the group in the southeast to issue an “every Monday-sit-at-home” order. It is a fact well acknowledged that the government of Nigeria has not really given in to the agitation which is now taking another dimension, as the group is now infringing on the human rights of the citizens in that part of the country, effectively bringing to a halt economic activities the region. This study examined the effect of mandatory closure of roads, markets, schools, etc. on Mondays by IPOB in South-east, Nigeria. The study made use of secondary data collection and its analysis showed that the sit-at home order has adverse effects on the economic and social lives of the south-easterners of Nigeria. The consequences of these affect the standard of living of the people within the geopolitical zone. Citizens of the region now live in fear and uncertainty, while those who depend solely in their daily work to feed are the worst hit. This order equally affects rights to work and earn a living as those working in companies, bank, state and federal offices within the geopolitical zone are not left out. The study concluded that the sit-at-home order is drastically affecting the South-eastern zone in particular, and the Nigerian nation in general, and as such recommends that Nigerian government should respond to the agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra since their actions are threatening the peace, security and unity of the nation, and also infringe on the fundamental human rights of the people. It further recommended that the federal government should adopt all-inclusive governance as this will return full rights and activities to the zone
Keywords: biafra’s, human, indigenous, infringement, ipob, nigeria, order, people, rights, sit-at-home, southeast